Collision avoidance display system for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The system includes a detector display having visual indicators arranged in a pattern representing a monitored area near the vehicle desired to be monitored. The visual indicators represent physical locations within the monitored area. An indicator controller is operatively associated with the detector display for actuating the visual indicators to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to the location of an object in the monitored area. A proximity sensor is included in communication with the indicator controller for detecting the physical location of objects within the monitored area. A detection signal is transmitted by the proximity sensor to the indicator controller in response to detecting an object, wherein the indicator controller is operable to actuate the visual indicators in response to the detection signal to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to an object location in the monitored area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefits of priority from U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/700,222, file Jan. 30, 2007, which claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/763,692, filedJan. 31, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display system for providingcollision avoidance information to a driver of a vehicle, and moreparticularly, to a display for use in heavy vehicles representing aplurality of monitored areas around the vehicle which indicates thepresence of one or more objects at a specific location within themonitored areas, as well as the relative movement of objects through themonitored areas, to provide the driver with an accurate representationof the location and movement of nearby objects relative to the heavyvehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The prior art discloses various blind spot detection systems that warnthe driver of a vehicle that another vehicle or obstacle is in closeproximity. Blind spots are areas of limited driver vision around thevehicle and are typically defined by regions to the side and rear of thevehicle in which the driver is not able to clearly view approachingobstacles in the vehicle's mirrors. These blind spots are notably morepresent in heavy vehicles such as large trucks, tractor-trailers,emergency and specialty vehicles, recreation vehicles, and the like.

The blind spot indicators of the prior art largely consist of simpleaudio or visual alarms that only warn the driver that an object is inproximity to the vehicle. Some systems provide slightly moreinformation, such as distance to the object. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,734,336 discloses a collision avoidance system that includes a mirrordisplay having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that indicatedistance between the vehicle and an object in the vehicle's path. TheLEDs are spaced apart in a linear arrangement and illuminatedsequentially to indicate distance to the object. The LEDs may also becolored to indicate changes in distance.

Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,326 which discloses a method andapparatus for detecting an object on a side or back of a vehicle. Thesystem includes a display unit including a power on LED, a second LEDindicating an obstacle being detected, and a third LED indicating thatno obstacle is being detected. The LEDs may also be colored yellow,green, and red to indicate the various sensing conditions.

These methods may be sufficient when the blind spot area to cover issmall, or when no discrimination between objects is desired. However,for larger vehicles, or when greater detection ranges are required tocover larger areas, such as along the side of a tractor-trailer, itwould be useful to discern between multiple objects and their relativeposition and movement to the large vehicle within a monitored area.Currently, the prior art does not teach providing an LED or like displaywhich shows the position and relative movement of objects within amonitored area in relation to the vehicle, or which is capable oftracking and displaying information on multiple objects simultaneously.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acollision avoidance display system that detects the position of at leastone object in a monitored area, such as a blind spot area.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collisionavoidance display system that is also capable of visually displaying tothe driver the location of objects within the monitored area adjacentthe vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collisionavoidance display system that is also capable of indicating to thedriver the relative movement of objects within the monitored areaadjacent the vehicle.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide acollision avoidance display system including a detector display havingvisual indicators arranged into a pattern representing the physicalconfiguration of the monitored area adjacent the vehicle so that anaccurate representation to the driver of the vehicle can be made as tothe location and movement of vehicles and other objects within themonitored area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives are accomplished according to the present inventionby providing a collision avoidance display system for a vehicle asdetailed herein below. The system includes a detector display havingvisual indicators arranged in a pattern representing a monitored areanear the vehicle desired to be monitored, and the visual indicatorsrepresenting physical locations within the monitored area. An indicatorcontroller is operatively associated with the detector display foractuating the visual indicators to display an object location in thepattern that corresponds to an object location in the monitored area. Aproximity sensor is included in communication with the indicatorcontroller for detecting the physical location of objects within themonitored area. A detection signal is transmitted by the proximitysensor to the indicator controller in response to detecting an object,wherein the indicator controller is operable to actuate the visualindicators in response to the detection signal to display an objectlocation in the pattern that corresponds to an object location in themonitored area.

In a further embodiment, the proximity sensor defines a physicalconfiguration for the monitored area, and the pattern of the visualindicators on said display corresponds to the physical configuration ofthe monitored area.

In another embodiment, the monitored area has a predefined physicalconfiguration represented by the pattern of the visual indicators in thedetector display, and the proximity sensor includes an object detectioncapacity correlated to the physical configuration of the monitored areato detect objects in the monitored area.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the pattern of the visualindicators on said display includes a plurality of monitoring zones witheach of the monitoring zones representing the physical configuration ofa corresponding monitored area adjacent the vehicle. The plurality ofmonitoring zones may include a left side monitoring zone and a rightside monitoring zone representing the physical configuration of a leftside monitored area and a right side monitored area on opposing sides ofthe vehicle, respectively. Further, the plurality of monitoring zonesmay also include a front monitoring zone and a back monitoring zonerepresenting the physical configuration of a front monitored area and aback monitored area on opposing ends of the vehicle, respectively.

In a further embodiment, the system includes a left proximity sensorcovering the left side monitored area with an array of object detectionbeams for detecting the physical location of objects within the leftside monitored area, wherein each of the visual indicators in the leftside monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of the objectdetection beams so that detection of an object by one of the objectdetection beams signals the indicator controller to actuate at least onecorresponding visual indicator. Further, the system includes a rightproximity sensor covering the right side monitored area with an array ofobject detection beams for detecting the physical location of objectswithin the right side monitored area, wherein each of the visualindicators in the right side monitoring zone is correlated with at leastone of the object detection beams so that detection of an object by oneof the object detection beams signals the indicator controller toactuate at least one corresponding visual indicator.

In a further embodiment, the system also includes a front proximitysensor covering the front monitored area with an array of objectdetection beams for detecting the physical location of objects withinthe front monitored area, wherein each of the visual indicators in thefront monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of the objectdetection beams so that detection of an object by one of the objectdetection beams signals the indicator controller to actuate at least onecorresponding visual indicator. Further, the system includes a backproximity sensor covering the back monitored area with an array ofobject detection beams for detecting the physical location of objectswithin the back monitored area, wherein each of the visual indicators inthe back monitoring zone is correlated with at least one of the objectdetection beams so that detection of an object by one of the objectdetection beams signals the indicator controller to actuate at least onecorresponding visual indicator, whereby the location of objects in thefront and back monitored areas can be displayed in the front and backmonitoring zones. As a result, the location of objects in the left side,right side, front and back monitored areas can be displayed in the leftand right side monitoring zones.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the detector display includes avehicle outline around which the plurality of monitoring zones arearranged for orienting the physical location represented by each of themonitoring zones in relation to the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the visual indicators in the plurality of monitoringzones are shaped in the form of round dots. In an alternativeembodiment, the visual indicators in the plurality of monitoring zonesare shaped in a form selected from one of triangular and rectangularblock segments, and combinations thereof.

In a further embodiment, the proximity sensor includes a beam emitterfor emitting light beams into the monitored area for detecting objectsand the pattern of the visual indicators is correlated to represent thephysical configuration of the monitored area covered by the beams. In afurther embodiment, the visual indicators are operatively associatedwith at least one selected light beam so that detection of an object byone of the light beams signals the indicator controller to actuate atleast one designated visual indicator corresponding to the light beam.The proximity sensor further includes a photodetector for detectinglight from the light beams being reflected by objects in the monitoredarea and the photodetector generates the detection signal fortransmission to the indicator controller.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a beam controller may be includedwhich is operatively associated with the proximity sensor for actuatingthe beam emitter and photodetector to detect object location andrelative movement of objects through the light beams in the monitoredarea. The beam controller is in communication with the indicatorcontroller for receiving the detection signal from the photodetector andtransmitting the detection signal to the indicator controller to actuatethe visual indicators in response to the detection signal.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the indicator controllermanipulates the lighting characteristics of the visual indicators todisplay the location of objects in the monitored area. In oneembodiment, the lighting characteristics manipulated by the indicatorcontroller includes the color of the light emitted by the indicators inresponse to detecting an object. In another embodiment, the lightingcharacteristics manipulated by the indicator controller includes theintensity of the light emitted by the indicators in response todetecting an object. In another embodiment, the lighting characteristicsmanipulated by the indicator controller includes the frequency of ablinking rate of the light emitted by the indicators in response todetecting an object. In another embodiment, the lighting characteristicsmanipulated by the indicator controller includes the number ofindicators actuated in response to detecting an object. In anotherembodiment, the lighting characteristics manipulated by the indicatorcontroller includes the pattern of the indicators actuated in responseto detecting an object.

In a preferred embodiment, the visual indicators are light emittingdiodes. In an alternative embodiment, the visual indicators may beliquid crystal displays.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the indicator controller actuatesthe visual indicators to display relative movement of objects in themonitored area in response to the detection signal from the proximitysensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter bedescribed, together with other features thereof. The invention will bemore readily understood from a reading of the following specificationand by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof,wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heavy vehicle equipped with thecollision avoidance display system monitoring an approaching vehicleaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a collision avoidance display systemfor a vehicle according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of acollision avoidance display system for a vehicle according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a display carried in an exteriorvehicle mirror viewable by the driver indicating the position andrelative movement of the approaching vehicle depicted in FIG. 1according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 a shows a detailed view of the display according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 b shows an alternative embodiment of the display according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 6 a-6 f show an overhead view of a heavy vehicle monitoring anapproaching vehicle and the display indicating to the driver theposition and relative movement of the approaching vehicle according tothe present invention;

FIGS. 7 a-7 f show an overhead view of a heavy vehicle monitoring anapproaching vehicle and an alternative embodiment of the displayindicating to the driver the position and relative movement of theapproaching vehicle according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 8 shows an overhead view of a heavy vehicle monitoring a pluralityof approaching vehicles and the alternative embodiment of the displayindicating to the driver the position of the approaching vehiclesaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described inmore detail. Referring to FIG. 1, a heavy vehicle 10 is shown having acollision avoidance display system according to the present inventiondetecting the approach of an object 12, illustrated as a passengervehicle, alongside heavy vehicle 10. As will be described in furtherdetail herein, the system is constructed and arranged to display to thedriver of heavy vehicle 10 the location of object 12 within a monitoredarea, indicated generally as 14 a and 14 d, adjacent heavy vehicle 10 ina manner that delivers external vehicle sensor data to the driver withminimal distraction to avoid a possible collision. The monitored areasare typically blind spot areas adjacent heavy vehicle 10 that the drivercannot easily see by looking in his mirrors. The present invention isdesigned to alert the driver to the presence of vehicles and otherobjects not readily seen with normal vehicle mirror systems or byline-of-sight. The system provides easily understood representations ofmonitored areas adjacent heavy vehicle 10 and the position of an objector objects within the monitored areas. However, the invention is notlimited to monitoring only blind spot areas and can be used to displayinformation to the driver about any area adjacent the vehicle as wouldbe convenient to supplement the information received by the driver fromnormal vehicle mirror systems and other vehicle information systems.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic representation is provided for thecollision avoidance system, designated generally as A, in accordancewith the present invention. In general, the system includes a detectordisplay 16, an indicator controller 18, and at least one proximitysensor 20 in electronic communication with each other as described indetail herein below.

Referring to FIG. 4, the approach of object 12 alongside heavy vehicle10 is shown from the perspective of the driver's side rearview mirrorassembly, designated generally as 22. In a preferred embodiment,detector display 16 is located in exterior rearview mirror assembly 22so the driver can monitor both the mirror and detector display 16 asobject 12 approaches. As is well known to those skilled in the art,exterior rearview mirror assembly 22 includes a mirror housing 24 with amirror pane 26 carried in housing 24 and a reflective coating disposedon a major surface of mirror pane 26. Detector display 16 is carried inmirror housing 24 behind mirror pane 26 to protect the variouselectronic components. The reflective coating is then adapted to pass atleast a portion of the visible light projected from detector display 16to be viewed by the driver. Adapting the reflective coating to pass asufficient amount of light to be viewable by the vehicle driver can beaccomplished by such well known methods as laser ablation and etching tothin or remove the reflective coating as necessary to pass the desiredamount of light. While the preferred location of detector display 16 isin mirror assembly 22, detector display 16 may be located at anysuitable location on the vehicle in view of the driver.

Further, detector display 16 may be active whenever the vehicle is inoperation. Depending on the desired use, display 16 could alternativelybe activated based on vehicle speed, or could be programmed to flash orperform some other lighting characteristic, as disused further below,when objects are in close proximity to the vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, two embodiments of detector display 16are shown in which visual indicators 28 are arranged into a pattern offour monitoring zones 30 a-30 d that represent four different monitoredareas adjacent the vehicle. The monitored areas are illustrated in FIG.6 a by reference numbers 14 a-14 d. Monitoring zones 30 a and 30 crepresent monitored areas 14 a and 14 c on opposing sides of thevehicle, while monitoring zones 30 b and 30 d represent monitored areas14 b and 14 d at the front and back of the vehicle. Each of visualindicators 28 represents a physical location within monitored areas 14a-14 d. Indicator controller 18 is operatively associated with detectordisplay 16 for actuating the visual indicators to display an objectlocation in the pattern that corresponds to the location of the objectin monitored areas 14 a-14 d.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 6 a and 7 a, each of monitoringzones 30 a-30 d represent the physical configuration of a differentmonitored area 14 a-14 d adjacent vehicle 10. As noted above, each ofvisual indicators 28 in monitoring zones 30 a-30 d represent a specificphysical location in each of monitored areas 14 a-14 d, which allows thedriver to receive accurate information as to the actual location ofobjects in relation to the vehicle. In a further advantageousembodiment, detector display 16 may include a vehicle outline 31 aroundwhich monitoring zones 30 a-30 d are arranged for orienting the physicallocation represented by each of the monitoring zones in relation to thevehicle. As used herein, monitored area refers to the physical spacebeing monitored adjacent the actual vehicle, and monitoring zone refersto the pattern of visual indicators 28 in detector display 16 thatrepresents the physical configuration of the monitored area to displayobject location.

As shown in FIG. 5 a, in one embodiment visual indicators 28 areindividual illuminating dots arranged to form the general shape of thedifferent monitoring zones 30 a-30 d that are covered by proximitysensors. This embodiment provides a maximum amount of information to thedriver by breaking up the display into numerous individually actuatedvisual indicators. In this arrangement, detector display 16 is capableof showing the exact location and relative movement of multiple objectsdetected in the monitoring zones.

The alternative arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5 b shows visualindicators 28 arranged into larger rectangular and triangular blocksegments that are individually actuated by indicator controller 18 toform monitoring zones 30 a-d. While still capable of showing objectlocation and relative movement, it is not as precise as the arrangementof FIG. 5 a. However, the arrangement of FIG. 5 b may be preferred bysome drivers as the embodiment of FIG. 5 a may provide too muchinformation. The number and location of visual indicators 28 in theexamples provided in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are provided for illustrativepurpose and can be varied based on the relative amount of informationdesired to be displayed. The arrangement of visual indicators 28 shouldbe made to provide the best compromise between cost, location, anddriver usage. The illustrated embodiments are considered exemplary forheavy vehicles with large blind spot areas.

The visual indicators 28 can use any suitable light emitting sourcecommonly used for such automotive applications, for example,incandescent bulbs, light emitting diodes (LED), electro-luminescent(EL) panels or strips, neon or other gaseous bulbs, and/or liquidcrystal displays (LCD). Preferably, the visual indicators are lightemitting diodes.

Referring to FIG. 2, proximity sensor 20 is included in communicationwith indicator controller 18 for detecting the physical location ofobjects within a monitored area. A detection signal is transmitted byproximity sensor 20 to indicator controller 18 in response to detectingan object. Indicator controller 18 is operable to actuate visualindicators 28 in response to the detection signal to display in thepattern of visual indicators 28 the location of objects in thecorresponding monitored area. In a further advantageous embodiment,indicator controller 18 actuates visual indicators 28 to also displayrelative movement of objects in the monitored areas in response to thedetection signals from proximity sensors 20. Indicator controller 18 canbe any suitable device that can receive detection signals from proximitysensor(s) 20 and transmit command signals to detector display 16 toactuate visual indicators 28 in a manner which displays object locationand movement. Indicator controller 18 may be a separate component orcould be integrated into either proximity sensor 20 or detector display16 as appropriate.

Indicator controller 18 can be operable to manipulate the lightingcharacteristics of visual indicators 28 in a variety of different waysand combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the lightingcharacteristics manipulated by the indicator controller includes thecolor of the light emitted by the indicators. In another embodiment, thelighting characteristics manipulated by the indicator controllerincludes the intensity of the light emitted by the indicators. Inanother embodiment, the lighting characteristics manipulated by theindicator controller includes the frequency of a blinking rate of thelight emitted by the indicators. In another embodiment, the lightingcharacteristics manipulated by the indicator controller includes thenumber of indicators actuated. In another embodiment, the lightingcharacteristics manipulated by the indicator controller includes thepattern of the indicators actuated. It should be understood that any oneor combination of lighting characteristics could be used to alert thedriver of approaching objects in the monitored area covered by proximitysensor 20. For example, upon detection of an object at a given locationin the monitored area, the corresponding visual indicator(s) 28 may turnon, change color such as from green to red, increase the light intensityof corresponding visual indicators, cause the visual indicators toblink, change the frequency of a blinking rate, cause a differentblinking pattern, etc. Also, different colors and blinking rates may beused together, for example. In the preferred embodiment, however, visualindicators 28 change color from green to red by indicator controller 18when objects are detected by proximity sensor 20 to provide easilyrecognizable contrast within the pattern of visual indicators 28 indetector display 16. Alternatively, in another preferred embodimentvisual indicators 28 are only illuminated as red dots or segments (FIGS.5 a and 5 b) when an object is detected at the corresponding location inthe monitored area associated with the illuminated visual indicators,leaving the rest of the visual indicators in a non-illuminated state.

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic of a preferred embodiment of theinvention is provided. In this embodiment, each of proximity sensors 20include an object detection capacity that defines the physicaldimensions of a monitored area, or alternatively, a proximity sensor isprovided having an object detection capacity capable of covering apredefined physical configuration for a designated monitoring areaadjacent the vehicle. As used herein, object detection capacity is thephysical area of coverage provided by the proximity sensor in which theproximity sensor is capable of detecting objects. Further, the patternof visual indicators 28 for each of monitoring zones 30 a-30 d (FIGS. 6a and 7 a) is correlated to represent the physical configuration of themonitored area covered by the particular proximity sensor 20. Forexample, referring to FIG. 6 a, a first proximity sensor 20 a isprovided with an object detection capacity, illustrated by light beams36, that define the physical configuration of monitored area 14 a.Visual indicators 28 in detector display 16 are then arranged intomonitoring zone 30 a to represent the physical configuration of theobject detection capacity of first proximity sensor 20 a. A secondproximity sensor 20 c is provided on an opposite side of vehicle 10 toprovide monitored area 14 c. Monitoring zone 30 c is provided indetector display 16 to represent the physical configuration of monitoredarea 14 c. A third proximity sensor 20 b, defines monitored area 14 b,which is then represented in detector display 16 by monitoring zone 30b. Finally, a fourth proximity sensor 20 d, defines monitored area 14 d,which is then represented in detector display 16 by monitoring zone 30d. Thus, detector display 16 is a representation of the different areascovered by the plurality of proximity sensors 20 a-20 d on vehicle 10.

In order to provide proximity sensors with a definable object detectioncapacity that can be correlated to visual indicators 28 of detectordisplay 16, the preferred embodiment described herein uses proximitysensors that emit multiple infrared light beams 36 to detect moving andstationary objects in the area covered by the beams. The technology ofproximity sensors using infrared beams is well described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,377,167; 6,201,236; 5,675,326; 5,463,384; 5,418,359; 5,311,012;5,122,796; 4,926,170; and 4,766,421, which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. In general, the hardware for thistechnology consists of a proximity sensor incorporating beam emitters 32and photodetectors 34. Both sections use lenses and solid-state beamemitters and receptors mechanically situated to generate a desired beampattern as illustrated in FIG. 6 a by the monitored areas designed byreference numbers 14 a-14 d, which are defined by a plurality of lightbeams 36. Based on the arrangement of the lenses for beam emitters 32and photodetectors 34, multiple infrared beams 36 may be transmitted orreceived in planar or non-planar formats. Radiation from emitters 32 isreflected by objects in the beams' path and returned to photodetectors34.

An advantage of this technology is the use of beam signatures orencoding. Beams 36 are emitted in a coded fashion that allows the systemphotodetectors 34 to discriminate between arbitrary infrared radiationand the radiation of interest. Although emitters 32 could emit radiationin other than a beam, the beam configuration is detailed herein asproviding the best option for correlating specific beams and locationswithin the object detection capacity of the proximity sensor to specificvisual indicators 28 in detector display 16. Each of beams 36 istransmitted in a time-multiplexed fashion. Infrared radiation reflectedby objects to photodetectors 34 is analyzed for the proper signaturebefore being further processed. A further feature of this technology ismeasuring the time between transmitted beam and received beam in orderto determine the distance of the object reflecting the transmitted,encoded radiation. This allows detector display 16 to show the specificlocation of the object in a monitored zone 30 a-30 d on the display.Further, by discriminating the time between transmitted and receivedradiation, the system can control the range of detection. Thus, thesystem can detect or ignore information reflected by objects within theobject detection capacity created by beams 36, based on the range of theobject from the system. As noted above, visual indicators 28 of detectordisplay 16 may be designed to represent individual beams or the areacovered by the beams. For example, referring to FIG. 6 b, beam 36 a inmonitored area 14 a can be correlated to visual indicators 29 a-c inmonitoring zone 30 a of detector display 16. In this arrangement, beam36 a is represented generally by indicators 29 a-c. Accordingly, whenbeam 36 a detects an object, any of visual indicators 29 a-c can beactuated to represent the location of the object within monitored zone30 a. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 7 b, beam 36 a can be correlatedto visual indicator 29 d. In this arrangement, the general area throughwhich the beam travels is represented by visual indicator 29 d.

A further advantage of this system is to allow detector display 16 torepresent multiple objects and the relative movement of objects throughbeams 36, and to give the driver a precise representation of objectlocation relative to heavy vehicle 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, in a further embodiment, a beam controller 38 maybe included which is operatively associated with proximity sensors 20for actuating beam emitters 32 and photodetectors 34 to detect objectlocation and relative movement of objects through light beams 36 in themonitored area. The beam controller is in communication with indicatorcontroller 18 for receiving the detection signal from photodetectors 34and transmitting the detection signal to indicator controller 18 toactuate visual indicators 28 in response to the detection signal. Beamcontroller 38 may be any suitable device capable of controlling theoperation of emitters 32 and processing the detection signals generatedby photdetectors 34 from multiple proximity sensors, such as for examplea serial data interface.

In accordance with the features described above in reference to FIGS. 2,3 and further referring to FIG. 6 a, proximity sensors 20 include beamemitters 32 for emitting light beams 36 into the monitored areas 14 a-14d for detecting objects. The pattern of visual indicators 28 in detectordisplay 16 is correlated to represent the physical configuration ofmonitored areas 14 a-14 d covered by beams 36. Each of visual indicators28 is operatively associated with at least one selected light beam sothat detection of an object by one of light beams 36 signals indicatorcontroller 18 to actuate designated visual indicators 28 correspondingto the light beam which detected the object. As shown in FIG. 6 a,object 12 approaches behind heavy vehicle 12 and enters monitored area14 d. Several of beams 36 detect object 12 and its position withinmonitored area 14 d. A detection signal is communicated to indicatorcontroller 18 which actuates detector display 16. Selected visualindicators, designated generally as 28 a, correlated to the beams whichdetected object 12 are illuminated to alert the driver as to thedetection and location of object 12 in relation to heavy vehicle 10. InFIG. 6 b, object 12 has moved to the left and visual indicators 28 ofdetector display 16 are accordingly adjusted as detailed above. Theilluminated visual indicators are identified generally as 28 a. As shownin FIG. 6 c, object 12 has now moved along the side of heavy vehicle 10into monitored area 14 a. Beams 36 detect object 12 and indicatorcontroller 18 is signaled to actuate visual indicators 28 a inmonitoring zone 30 a of detector display 16 to display the relativelocation of object 12 to heavy vehicle 10. In FIG. 6 d, object 12 hasmoved forward through monitored area 14 a and appropriate visualindicators are illuminated to show the change in position. In FIGS. 6 eand 6 f, object 12 is shown moving into different locations withinmonitored area 14 b, and the appropriate visual indicators 28 a beingactuated in response to detection signals.

FIGS. 7 a-7 f illustrate the same concept as detailed above but with thealternative embodiment of detector display 16 described above in FIG. 5b. In this arrangement, instead of individual dots associated withspecific light beams emitted from proximity sensor 20, visual indicators28 that form monitoring zones 30 a-30 d are arranged into largersegments with each segment 28 correlated to specific areas covered bylight beams 36 and illuminated based on the location of the objectwithin the monitored areas 14 a-14 b. The illuminated visual indicatorsare designated by reference number 28 a. FIG. 8 illustrates thedetection of multiple objects in different monitored areas 14 c and 14 dwith corresponding visual indicator segments 28 a illuminated inmonitoring zones 30 c and 30 d.

While the above embodiment focuses on the use of infrared light beamtechnology, it should be made clear that the type of detector displaydescribed herein could be used with any type of sensor capable ofproviding range and location information to indicator controller 18,such as sensors using microwaves, ultrasound waves, radio waves,electromagnetic waves, laser beams, and the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1. A collision avoidance display system for a vehicle comprising: adetector display having a plurality of visual indicators arranged in apattern on said display representing a defined monitored area along afirst side of the vehicle, wherein each of said visual indicators onsaid display represents a distinct physical location within saidmonitored area; an indicator controller operatively associated with saiddetector display for actuating said visual indicators to display anobject location in said pattern that corresponds to a physical locationof an object within said monitored area; a proximity sensor having atotal physical area of sensor coverage defining the physical limit ofsaid proximity sensor to detect an object, wherein said total physicalarea of sensor coverage defines said monitored area and said proximitysensor that is in communication with said indicator controller fordetecting said physical location of said object within said monitoredarea, wherein said pattern of said visual indictors indicators in saiddisplay is arranged to render to a driver said total physical area ofsensor coverage defining said monitored area in specific relation tosaid first side of the vehicle so that said display shows the physicallimit of said proximity sensor to detect an object next to the vehicle;a detection signal being transmitted by said proximity sensor to saidindicator controller in response to detecting said object, wherein saidindicator controller is operable to actuate said visual indicators inresponse to said detection signal to display said object location insaid pattern that corresponds to said physical location of said objectin said monitored area; and, wherein said indicator controller actuatessaid visual indicators to display movement forward, back, left and rightof at least one said object throughout the entire said monitored arearelative to the vehicle in response to said detection signal from saidproximity sensor.
 2. The display system of claim 1 wherein said patternof said visual indicators on said display includes a plurality ofmonitoring zones each corresponding in physical configuration to onesaid monitored areas area adjacent the vehicle.
 3. The display system ofclaim 2 wherein said plurality of monitoring zones on said displayinclude a left side monitoring zone and a right side monitoring zonewherein a plurality of said visual indicators are arranged in each saidmonitoring zone representing the physical configuration of a left sidemonitored area and a right side monitored area on opposing sides of thevehicle, respectively.
 4. The display system of claim 3 including a leftproximity sensor covering said left side monitored area with an array ofobject detection beams for detecting the physical location of saidobject within said left side monitored area, wherein each of said visualindicators in said left side monitoring zone is correlated with at leastone of said object detection beams so that detection of said object byone of said object detection beams signals said indicator controller toactuate a correlated one of said visual indicators; and, a rightproximity sensor covering said right side monitored area with an arrayof object detection beams for detecting the physical location of saidobject within said right side monitored area, wherein each of saidvisual indicators in said right side monitoring zone is correlated withat least one of said object detection beams so that detection of saidobject by one of said object detection beams signals said indicatorcontroller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators,whereby the location of said object in said left side and right sidemonitored areas can be displayed in said left and right side monitoringzones.
 5. The display system of claim 4 wherein said plurality ofmonitoring zones on said display include a front monitoring zone and aback monitoring zone wherein a plurality of said visual indicators arearranged in each said monitoring zone representing the physicalconfiguration of a front monitored area and a back monitored area onopposing ends of the vehicle, respectively.
 6. The display system ofclaim 5 including a front proximity sensor covering said front monitoredarea with an array of object detection beams for detecting the physicallocation of said object within said front monitored area, wherein eachof said visual indicators in said front monitoring zone is correlatedwith at least one of said object detection beams so that detection ofsaid object by one of said object detection beams signals said indicatorcontroller to actuate a correlated one of said visual indicators; and, aback proximity sensor covering said back monitored area with an array ofobject detection beams for detecting the physical location of saidobject within said back monitored area, wherein each of said visualindicators in said back monitoring zone is correlated with at least oneof said object detection beams so that detection of said object by oneof said object detection beams signals said indicator controller toactuate a correlated one of said visual indicators, whereby the locationof said object in said front and back monitored areas can be displayedin said front and back monitoring zones.
 7. The display system of claim2 wherein said plurality of monitoring zones on said display include afront monitoring zone and a back monitoring zone representing thephysical configuration of a front monitored area and a back monitoredarea, respectively.
 8. The display system of claim 2 wherein saiddetector display includes a vehicle outline around which said pluralityof monitoring zones are arranged for orienting the physical locationrepresented by each of said monitoring zones in relation to the vehicle.9. The display system of claim 2 wherein said visual indicators in saidplurality of monitoring zones are shaped in the form of round dots. 10.The display system of claim 2 wherein said visual indicators in saidplurality of monitoring zones are shaped in a form selected from one oftriangular and rectangular block segments, and combinations thereof. 11.The display system of claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor includes abeam emitter for emitting light beams into said monitored area fordetecting said object, and wherein said pattern of said visualindicators is correlated to represent the physical configuration of themonitored area covered by said beams.
 12. The display system of claim 11wherein said visual indicators are operatively associated with at leastone selected light beam so that detection of said object by one of saidlight beams signals said indicator controller to actuate at least onedesignated visual indicator corresponding to said light beam.
 13. Thedisplay system of claim 11 wherein said proximity sensor includes aphotodetector for detecting light from said light beams being reflectedby said object in said monitored area, and wherein said photodetectorgenerates said detection signal for transmission to said indicatorcontroller.
 14. The display system of claim 13 including a beamcontroller operatively associated with said proximity sensor foractuating said beam emitter and said photodetector to detect said objectlocation and relative movement of said object through said light beamsin said monitored area.
 15. The display system of claim 14 wherein saidbeam controller is in communication with said indicator controller forreceiving said detection signal from said photodetector and transmittingsaid detection signal to said indicator controller to actuate saidvisual indicators in response to said detection signal.
 16. The displaysystem of claim 1 wherein said indicator controller manipulates lightingcharacteristics of said visual indicators to display in said patternsaid object location detected in said monitored area.